Ibis Baez, 29, killed in alleged road rage crash off LIE, known by friends for his hard work and love of fishing

Ibis Baez was riding his motorcycle between jobs as an HVAC technician when, police said, an allegedly enraged driver fatally struck him last week after exiting the Long Island Expressway.

Baez, 29, of the Bronx, whose friends called him Alex, was known for his hard work and gentle demeanor to the point that his customers would ask for him by name, said his employer Fred Nikfar, of HVAC Plus in Great Neck. 

"He was a very nice kid and just loved by everyone he met," Nikfar said. 

Baez was riding a 2016 Kawasaki east on the Long Island Expressway in North Hills around 5 p.m. last Friday, police said last week. Brian Noll, 64, of the upstate town of Scio and driving a Ford F-250 east on the LIE, allegedly "intentionally swerved" and pinned Baez against a guardrail off Exit 34, fatally injuring him, Nassau County police said.

Police said both Baez and Noll were trying to leave the highway at the same time when the motorcycle struck the mirror of Noll's Ford F-250 on the South Service Road. Noll then allegedly opened his door to try to hit Baez and then swerved to drive him off the road into the guardrail, police said.

Baez was declared dead at the scene. Noll was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Baez's death. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Saturday.

Baez's Bronx roommate, Dorian Holder, 34, said he'd been fishing buddies with Baez since age 14. Holder said they were planning their annual fishing trip with friends to the Everglades in Florida and Baez hoped to soon buy a boat. 

Baez commuted from the Bronx to work on Long Island and had just bought his motorcycle, Holder said. 

"All he did was work or fish," Holder said. 

Photographs on social media show a makeshift memorial of candles, flowers and Baez's picture set up near the section off the LIE where he died.

A judge set bail for Noll at $300,000 cash or $1.5 million bond. He is set to return to court May 14.

After Noll's arraignment Saturday, his attorney, Jason Russo of Garden City, called the incident "a tragic accident that was unfortunately caused by some reckless driving, not by my client, but by a motorcyclist on the road who took some very careless actions and caused his own demise."

"This is in no way intentional murder," Russo told Newsday that day. "Mr. Noll is a 64-year-old grandfather who’s never had a single contact with the criminal justice system. ... He was coming back to Long Island yesterday to go to a baby shower of one of their family friends when this incident happened."

A GoFundMe account for Baez's family had raised more than $13,000 by Friday. 

"Ibis was a great human being with a peaceful soul," a message on the online fundraiser said. "... He loved fishing with such passion it was hard to keep up, always on some mission to check off his to-do list in life goals."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.